This came out a bit OOC, sorry about that, but I still really adore this AU
For: FieryPassionofGrell
(Didn't necessarily give a prompt so I decided to write a story that's been sloshing around in my brain for a while)
Enjoy~!
This was starting to become a major problem. Freed kept telling himself that falling for that new gym teacher was bad news; just generally a bad idea.
For one thing, they worked in two completely different departments of the school – plus they were in aschool for crying out loud, it was highly inappropriate – so interaction between them would be nonexistent. Also, the man's personality was just atrocious: he was loud, cocky, brash, rude, strong . . . muscular. . .kind hearted. . . really great with the kids actually . . . Oh no! He shouldn't be thinking like that.
Freed visibly shook his head to scatter the thoughts away. With a calming breath, the English teacher adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and continued to grade his student's papers. This was one of the rare times of the day in which he didn't have a class, so he best be using his time wisely. In truth, he didn't know why his mind wondered from his grading. The papers were analytical essays on Catcher and the Rye; how did his mind wonder from Holden's take on society to that hunky, new gym teacher?!
With an agitated sigh, Freed put the paper down and rubbed at his eyes. It was hopeless. He couldn't concentrate. His thoughts just continued to wonder to that man!
Knowing when to throw in the towel, the green haired teacher decided that a good walk around the halls was a good exercise to clear his head. Pushing himself to his feet, the man left his room in favor of a bit of exercise. Granted, walking wouldn't be considered much of an exercise in comparison to the new guy. He probably did an "Insanity" workout as a warm-up. The mere thought made him both jealous and a tad bit turned on.
Freed wasn't even paying attention to where he was going and ended up in the gym wing. The green haired man stopped dead in his tracks as soon as he realized where he was – and who he might run into – and immediately turned around on his heel and high-tailed it out of there.
To think he would've learned his lesson on watching where he was going, but he didn't and managed to collide onto another body. With an oof, Freed fell on his rear. It was like he ran into a wall. Freed shook his head as a large shadow over took him.
"Geesh, man. I didn't even see ya there," a deep, gruff voice said above him. Before Freed could replay, the other grabbed him by the shoulders and hoisted him up while adding, "There ya go!"
Freed was launched to his feet. He almost forgot to use his legs once he was placed upright. A bit off balance, but the green haired man was up again. He dusted himself off for a moment before saying a small, "Thank you."
He didn't actually look to see who he ran into until the other said, "Don't mention it."
Freed didn't recognize the voice at first, but now it seemed impossible for him to not know it. He flinched at his realization. He didn't want to look up. He didn't want to meet the gaze of the one he's been trying to forget. But his eyes betrayed him as they began to rise he was met with Laxus Drayer. The new gym teacher in which Freed couldn't stop thinking about.
This was the first time the two actually met, and this was how? By literally bumping into one another? How cliché.
Freed swallowed involuntarily. He straightened himself out and stood tall. He would not let himself be intimidated by this man, no matter how attractive he looked. Freed was good looking in his own right. For some reason, Freed felt like he needed to prove himself to this man, but he didn't know how or why. He felt the blond's stare, that judgmental look, gaze at him up and down; scanning him in the most intimate and intimidating way.
Freed brought his head out of his chest and looked at the blond in the eye and said, "Well, I must be going now."
The green haired man was about to walk past the larger male, but was stopped by that wall of muscle. "Hang on there," he said holding his hand out, "I'm new here, and I don't know a lot of people. I was wondering if you could show me around a bit." The man put on a charismatic smile as he placed his hands in his pockets.
Freed could feel his face warming up again. That grin: it just screamed trouble, but looked so inviting . . . how could he say no? Seriously, how could he say no?! Freed was too gentlemanly to refuse, and combined with that smirk . . . oh hell, Freed was screwed.
"S-sure . . ." Freed squeaked out. So much for trying to look macho in front of the new guy (in retrospect, it was difficult for the English teacher to look intimidating in front of a gym teacher anyway).
With no way out, the green haired man gestured for Laxus to follow.
Along the way, Freed would tell the blond what wing of the school was what: the history hallway that connected to the world languages area which was across from the English offices. Laxus looked like he was getting every other word, but nodded and followed. In an odd way, the blond reminded Freed of some of his students; the buff sports kids that didn't like to pay attention to anything besides their own egos. Yeah, Laxus reminded him of those kids.
Although, the man wasn't completely hopeless. From time to time, a question would come out of his mouth and Freed would happily answer. However, the questions weren't too difficult, and they were mostly about the teachers (apparently a few of them were involved in the school sports teams, and the blond would say a quick hello to any of them he knew).
By the time the duo got to the science wing, which was about the end of their little tour, Laxus' interest was piqued slightly. He peered in one of the rooms, and Freed gazed over his shoulder. The class was doing some sort of experiment that Freed couldn't figure out; he was never quite as fond of science as others.
In front of him, Laxus hummed in approval. Freed looked at him with a questioning look which the blond spotted. Apparently the green haired man looked quite confused, for the blond explained, "They're studying Faraday's Law by moving a copper coil loop around a dipole."
While Laxus was explaining, Freed felt his mind shut down momentarily. None of what the blond said made sense to him. It was almost like he was speaking in a different language even though what he said sounded so simple.
A smug grin appeared on the blond's lips. "I double majored in physics and physical education in college," Laxus elaborated.
Freed's eyes widened a fraction out of amazement and shock. Here Freed thought the blond was just another jock-type, whereas Laxus was actually intelligent. It wasn't that the English teacher was stereotyping or judging a book by its cover, it was just . . . okay, maybe that's exactly what the green haired man was doing, but that wasn't the point. The point was: Freed was impressed, and – if it was possible – it made Laxus more attractive. How smarts adds to one's attractiveness, was beyond the teacher's knowledge.
Once Laxus was done observing the students, the two made their way back to where they started. Freed glanced at a clock above them as they walked; it seemed that they didn't have a lot of time left until the next period would begin. As much as he loved teaching, it was a shame that this tour was coming to an end, as was Freed's only chance at talking to the blond. It was likely that the two wouldn't converse much in the future. No matter how intelligent Laxus was under all that muscle, it didn't deny the fact that the two teachers were separated by the school's layout as well as the courses they taught.
Their adventure together was short, but all great things must come to an end.
When Freed was in front of the gym, he turned to Laxus and stated, "The bell is about to ring, I suppose I should be heading back to my class. Teachers above all else mustn't be tardy after all."
"Hu? Oh, yeah," Laxus responded.
It seemed the physical education teacher was in a world all his own. Freed rushed out a quick good-bye before turning to leave the blond be. Although, the green haired man didn't get far before history repeated itself and Freed was stopped once again by Laxus.
"Hey," the blond called out, making the English teacher stop and turn back around, "I just wanted ta say thanks . . . for showin' me around the place."
Freed let a small mile grace his lips. "It was my pleasure. I realize how difficult it must be to navigate around this school for newcomers."
"Uh," Laxus stammered, scratching the back of his neck. He almost looked nervous. "This is awkward of me to ask, but I never really got your name."
"Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude of me." The green haired male extended his hand and introduced, "My name is Freed Jusitine."
The blond smirked and grabbed the smaller hand in a firm handshake. "Laxus Drayer." Before Freed could say anything else, Laxus continued, "Uh . . . would it be weird if I asked you out on a date?"
The two's hands were still connected as the gym teacher asked his question; and upon hearing it, Freed retracted his hand as if it were burned.
"What!?" the English teacher asked as his face exploded in red.
"It is weird, isn't it?" Laxus said as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
It wasn't that the question was odd, it was just that it caught Freed off guard. The blond didn't show any signs of interest in Freed, or at least what Freed could recall. In his head, the green haired man was leaping for joy, but his tongue seemed to be tied and couldn't express what he felt.
The longer Freed didn't respond – and stared at Laxus in shock – the worse Laxus was looking. Not ten seconds passed when Laxus said in an angered tone, "Ya know what? Just forget it!"
Freed jumped at his words. No! Nononononono!
"Wait –!" Freed said, before the other could leave out of embarrassed fury. "I'm sorry, you just surprised me . . ." Freed took a deep breath to try to calm his raging heart beat before continuing, "I would love to go on a date with you."
The words tasted odd on his tongue and were forced out in an unconventional way, but his heart had never been lighter.